Bottom Line:
Currently there has been no effective treatment of diabetic encephalopathy.The results showed that 8 weeks of Radix Polygoni Multiflori treatment could improve the cognitive dysfunction of diabetic rats (P < 0.01), recover the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons, and increase the number of synapses in a dose-dependent manner.Further experiment also suggested that the neuroprotective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori was partly achieved by downregulating MLCK expression in hippocampus via ERK signaling.

ABSTRACTCurrently there has been no effective treatment of diabetic encephalopathy. Radix Polygoni Multiflori, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used in antiaging treatment, especially in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's diseases. In this study we tried to explore the effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori on cognitive function among diabetic rats with demonstrated cognitive impairment. SD rats were divided into group A (control group), group B (diabetes), group C (treated with Radix Polygoni Multiflori at the dose of 2 g/kg/d), and group D (treated with same drug at the dose of 1 g/kg/d). The results showed that 8 weeks of Radix Polygoni Multiflori treatment could improve the cognitive dysfunction of diabetic rats (P < 0.01), recover the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons, and increase the number of synapses in a dose-dependent manner. Further experiment also suggested that the neuroprotective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori was partly achieved by downregulating MLCK expression in hippocampus via ERK signaling.

fig1: The representative photos of hippocampal tissue in rats. (A) Control rat; (B) diabetic rat. The neurons in rat hippocampal tissue (mainly pyramidal cells) in control rat group are round or oval in shape, with large and lightly stained cytoplasm also round in shape and orderly arranged nucleus. In diabetes rat group the morphology of the neurons was obviously abnormal in hippocampal tissue. The number of neurons decreased, cells were swelling, and nuclear fragmentation or disappearance was observed, as in cell apoptosis.

Mentions:
The neurons in rat hippocampal tissue (mainly pyramidal cells) in group A showed normal morphology that is round or oval in shape, with large and lightly stained cytoplasm also round in shape and orderly arranged nucleus. Compared with that of group A, the morphology of the neurons was obviously abnormal in hippocampal tissue in group B. The number of neurons decreased, cells were swelling, and nuclear fragmentation or disappearance was observed, as in cell apoptosis (Figure 1).

fig1: The representative photos of hippocampal tissue in rats. (A) Control rat; (B) diabetic rat. The neurons in rat hippocampal tissue (mainly pyramidal cells) in control rat group are round or oval in shape, with large and lightly stained cytoplasm also round in shape and orderly arranged nucleus. In diabetes rat group the morphology of the neurons was obviously abnormal in hippocampal tissue. The number of neurons decreased, cells were swelling, and nuclear fragmentation or disappearance was observed, as in cell apoptosis.

Mentions:
The neurons in rat hippocampal tissue (mainly pyramidal cells) in group A showed normal morphology that is round or oval in shape, with large and lightly stained cytoplasm also round in shape and orderly arranged nucleus. Compared with that of group A, the morphology of the neurons was obviously abnormal in hippocampal tissue in group B. The number of neurons decreased, cells were swelling, and nuclear fragmentation or disappearance was observed, as in cell apoptosis (Figure 1).

Bottom Line:
Currently there has been no effective treatment of diabetic encephalopathy.The results showed that 8 weeks of Radix Polygoni Multiflori treatment could improve the cognitive dysfunction of diabetic rats (P < 0.01), recover the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons, and increase the number of synapses in a dose-dependent manner.Further experiment also suggested that the neuroprotective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori was partly achieved by downregulating MLCK expression in hippocampus via ERK signaling.

ABSTRACTCurrently there has been no effective treatment of diabetic encephalopathy. Radix Polygoni Multiflori, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used in antiaging treatment, especially in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's diseases. In this study we tried to explore the effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori on cognitive function among diabetic rats with demonstrated cognitive impairment. SD rats were divided into group A (control group), group B (diabetes), group C (treated with Radix Polygoni Multiflori at the dose of 2 g/kg/d), and group D (treated with same drug at the dose of 1 g/kg/d). The results showed that 8 weeks of Radix Polygoni Multiflori treatment could improve the cognitive dysfunction of diabetic rats (P < 0.01), recover the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons, and increase the number of synapses in a dose-dependent manner. Further experiment also suggested that the neuroprotective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori was partly achieved by downregulating MLCK expression in hippocampus via ERK signaling.